Energy Consumption Patterns of Mature Australian Consumers

Abstract

By the year 2001 two out of seven Australians will be aged 50 years or over. While the mature age group growth rate is twice that of the population as a whole, very little is known about this segment in terms of their patterns of buyer behavior. No Australian study has investigated to date energy consumption of mature consumers. This paper explores the over 50 age group in Brisbane, Australia and endeavors to describe and explain the heterogeneity among mature consumers with reference to electricity consumption. As such, this paper demonstrates that mature consumers cannot be simply regarded as a homogeneous group, as has been demonstrated in the United States and Europe but which, to date has not been demonstrated in Australia. Specifically, this paper investigates not only the demographic characteristics, and consumption activities of the over 50 age group in Australia, but also includes energy-specific lifestyle analysis as this complements the demographics and product ownership and use. Through an ana...